Valentine banter warning

WORKERS who send Valentine's Day cards to colleagues could face dismissal and end up costing their companies thousands of pounds, legal experts have warned. They are particularly concerned about the rising popularity of "e-cards" sent via the internet, fearing workers may send them on the day as part of office banter that could seriously backfire.

WORKERS who send Valentine's Day cards to colleagues could face dismissal and end up costing their companies thousands of pounds, legal experts have warned.

They are particularly concerned about the rising popularity of "e-cards" sent via the internet, fearing workers may send them on the day as part of office banter that could seriously backfire.

It comes after an application was launched on the social networking site Facebook which allows users to send e-cards with greetings such as "I think in time your creepiness will become endearing" and "I liked you from the moment I heard you were desperate".

Peter Mooney, head of consultancy at Manchester-based Employment Law Advisory Services, said: "Sending this sort of thing to a colleague might seem like banter but is could easily be interpreted as an unwanted sexual advance.

"Even sending a traditional Valentine's Day card could result in a sexual harassment claim but the risks are increasing as more and more people send their greetings via the internet. This obviously makes it much easier to do something on the spur of the moment without considering the consequences.

"The worst consequence for the sender could be dismissal after an investigation if the recipient was so outraged and felt that this was going beyond the bounds of a usual office relationship.

"And for the employer, if someone makes a claim and it mushrooms it could end up costing tens of thousands of pounds.

"In an extreme case there is no ceiling on these claims so the sky's the limit."

Mr Mooney also warned against sending flowers in case a member of staff suffers from hay fever and accuses their employer of not providing an amenable working environment.

He conceded that these were worst-case scenarios but said it was important for employers to be aware of their responsibilities and to lay out ground rules.

Mushroom

"People might think 'Oh yeah, let's have a giggle', and that's right within bounds but if someone takes it the wrong way it can mushroom.

"These are all things that could be okay but could be taken the wrong way and could get out of hand."

The TUC urged employers not to ban love from the office or the factory but instead to consult an online guide to relationships at work published today.

With the long-hours culture enjoying a renaissance and unpaid overtime on the increase, it's no wonder that around a quarter of long-term relationships begin at work, said the guide.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Office romances rarely cause any problems so it would be wrong for employers to adopt a heavy-handed approach to office flirting and introduce strict rules or blanket bans.

"But office Romeos and Juliets may need to be reminded of where to draw the line at work. Guidelines reminding staff of the need to keep their love lives separate from work, and to not let lover's tiffs make workmates feel uncomfortable will prove useful to staff and employers alike."

Another report, by employment law firm Peninsula said that most employers believed workplace relationships were a bad idea.

Managing director Peter Done said: "Office romances are not always rosy and can often result in nasty break-ups giving the employer a nasty headache. If the problem gets really bad then the disgruntled employee may even file a sexual harassment claim against the employer resulting in a costly litigation claim."